Locking mechanism.



S. ANDERSON.

LOCKING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 14. 1914.

Patented Dec. 7, 1915.

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SWAN ANDERSON, 01? DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOBQF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES H. TOMLINSON, OF MANSFIELD, OHIO, AND GNE-EIGHTT-I TO JOHN TOIVILINSON, OF

DENVER, COLORADO.

LOCKING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent;

Patented Dec. 7, 1915.

Application filed September 14, 1914. Serial No.861,503.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SWAN ANDERSON, a citizenof the United States of America, residing at Denver, in the county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locking Mechanism, of which the following is a specification. I j

The present invention relates to a locking mechanism for oscillating or swinging levers, and more particularly to a locking mechanism for switch-tongues of street railway switches.

It is well known by those skilled inthe art, to which this invention appertains, that the ordinary street railway switch-tongue is very frequently moved from its position by vibration of the rails caused by a passing car or train, and consequently a portion of the train is guided from the main track onto a side track with disastrous result.

The principal object of' the present inzvention is to provide a simple and effective mechanism by means of which the switchtongue is effectively locked in either position after it has been moved over the dead center by the trainman or switchman.

Another object is to. provide a locking mechanism for switch-tongues which can be applied to any ordinary switch-tongue without disturbing the paving or road-bed along side the rails, and which is readily accessible in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure'l shows a plan view of a section of railway track including the switchtongue. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same, Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the spiral spring and Fig. 4 is an elevation of the same.

Referring more particularly to the'drawing, reference numeral (1) represents a portion "of the main track rail, (2) indicates the side track rail and (3) represents the oscillatingswitch-tongue which cooperates between the rails (1) and (2) to guide the car wheel from one rail tothe other. The switch-tongue (3) is pivoted to the base plate (4) by the pivot pin (5), and oper-' ates in a manner which is well understood. All of these parts, so far described, may be of any ordinary and well known construction, and one of the essential features of my invention lies in the fact that it may very readily be applied to any switch already in use without the addition of any complicated work ng parts, or without disturbing the paving or road-bed along side the rails.

As will be seen in Fig. 2, I provide a recess (6) in the under side of the switchtongue (3) which is adapted to receive the spiral spring (7). In the bottom of the recess (6) I also provide an aperture (8) which is suitably positioned to receive the end (9) of the spring. Also in the top of the base plate L) and substantially on the horizontal center line between the rail (1) and the guard rail (10) I provide an aperture (11). which is adapted to receive the outer end (12) of the spring In the preferred form the spring (7) is made in the form of an ordinary spiral spring as, shown in Fig. 3, this spring being made from either round, square or flat wire asdesired. The

' (9) and (12) of the spiral spring are bent at substantially right angles to the plane of the spiral and in opposite directions from each other. This construction provides a very simple method of installing the switch lockand onewhich can verv readily be applied to any switch-tongue in use.

hen it is desired to apply my improved switch lock, it is only necessary to remove the switch-tongue, mill or chip the recess the aperture (11) in the top of the base plate, after which the spiral spring and switch-tongue may be placed in position. It will be understood of course'that the longitudinal distance between the apertures (8) and (11) should be somewhat less than the distance between the free ends (9) and (12) of the spiralspring in order to provide the necessary tension in the spring. The relation of these apertures in respect to the distance between the ends of the spring can be. varied in order to obtain any desired tension. I 4

After my improved switch lock has been installed as described above, and the switchshown by full lines in Fig. 1, it will be tongue in this position.

readily. understood that the tension inthe spring (7) acts to hold or lock the switch- Also when the switch-tongue'has been thrown to the position shown dotted in Fig. 1, the spring (7) then acts to hold or lock the tongue in this position. When the switch-tongue is in either of the above positions it is securely looked as described above and thus is pre vented from being accidentally moved out of its position by the vibration of the rails caused by a passing train.

It will be understood of course that if the tongue is in the position shown by full lines in Fig. 1 and a train or car is approachlng from the side track (2) or in the direction of the arrow, the flange of the wheel will force the tongue laterally toward the dotted position in Fig. 1 and as soon as the tongue has passed the center line A B of the switch the spring ('7) will force the tongue into the dotted position. In other words the spring (7) permits the tongue to yield sufficiently for the passage of trains in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1, regardless of which position the tongue may be in at the time.

The spring (7) prevents the tongue from stopping in any intermediate position be tween the positions shown in Fig. 1, except of course on the dead center line A B,

but when the tongue is thrown to one posiextremely simple and effective switch lock' which absolutely prevents splitting switches.

Vhile I have shown and described my invention as applied to a railway switchtongue, yet I do not wish to be so limited, as the invention can be very readily applied to many other uses by simply making such 1 Copies 0;. this patent may be obtained for slight modifications as are necessary to suit the particular condition.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A switch lock comprising a switch tongue and a spiral spring secured beneath the said tongue,-whereby the tongue is locked in either position from the dead center substantially as described.

2. In a railway switch, thecombination with the base plate having the switch tongue pivoted thereto, of a spiral spring, the ends ofwhichoperatively engage the top side of the said plate and theunder side of the said tongue respectively, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a railway switch, the combination with the base plate, of a tongue pivoted thereto, the said tongue being provided with a recess on the under side thereof, a spiral with an aperture in the top side thereof,a

tongue pivoted to said plate, said tongue being provided with an aperture in the bottom side thereof, a spiral spring having its ends bent in opposite directions at right angles to the plane of the spiral, the said ends being adapted to operatively engage the said apertures respectively, substantially as described. i

6. In a railway'switch, the combination of a base plate, said plate being provided with an aperture in the top side thereof, a tongue pivoted to said plate, said tongue being provided with a recess in the bottom side thereof, said tongue also being provided with an aperture in the bottom of said recess, a spiral spring having its ends bent in opposite directions at right angles to the plane of the spiral, the said apertures being spaced relatively nearer each other than the ends of said spring, said spring being adapted to lie in said recess with the ends thereof operatively. engaging the said apertures respectively, substantially as described.

7. In a railway switch, the combination of a base plate, a switch tongue pivoted thereto, the said plate and tongue being provided with apertures a spiral spring having its ends bent at right angles to the plane of the spiral and adapted to engage the said apertures, the said apertures being spaced relatively nearer each other than the ends of the spring, substantially as described.-

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

swan ANDERSON. Witnesses 2 A. M. EVANS, B. K. WVAY.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). O. 

